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DRAMATIC POEM IN 
THREE ACTS 




BY 



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Copyright, 1917, 
By Daisy Virginia Johnson 

All rights reserved. 



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Dramatic Poem in Three Acts 
By Daisy V. Johnson 

ARGUMENT 

In Happyrealm lived Harold, a powerful and greatly beloved 
prince, betrothed to a beautiful and good princess by the name of 
Cleona. 

The play opens with Prince Harold preparing for a journey 
into the world. As he bids the people of Happyrealm farewell, 
an armor of light descends to him, completely shielding him from 
the attacks of error, and he goes on his way rejoicing. 

He lands on a foreign shore and there is watched by a sea- 
man who is filled with fear on beholding the Prince in his glisten- 
ing armor. 

The seaman tries to make away with Harold, but is powerless 
to do so, and his companions, believing this to be a sign of the 
stranger's divinity, show him hospitality. 

The Prince heals an afflicted child, thereby convincing the 
sailors that he is a god, and they offer to make him ruler over 
sea and land, but the traveler refuses and continues his journey. 

Harold next enters a forest and, becoming tired of his armor, 
casts it aside. At once he meets with temptations. 

Leodora, the jealous Queen of the Fairies, and her wee 
train, cast a spell over the Prince. Harold forgets Happyrealm 
and his love for the good and true Gleona. 

But the fairy charm does not last. Realizing his plight, the 
Prince tries to free himself. He appeals to a woodcutter, but 
receives no aid from him. 

Finally a drunken dwarf enters and offers Harold liberty, but 
this is only a ruse for plunging him into deeper trouble. 

In a dark cave, Harold is made to drink a stupefying potion, 
and is held a prisoner till released by Light shown to him by the 
Princess. After a mighty struggle, the Prince rises, and in com- 
pany with the Princess Cleona and earth children who have fol- 
lowed him, he leaves the cave, singing a song to the God of Love. 



THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 



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CHARACTERS. 

PRINCE HAROLD. 
QUEEN MARGARET, his mother. 
PRINCESS CLEONA, symbol of goodness and love. 
CHILDREN living in Happyrealm. 
Love, Gentleness, Meekness, Temperance, Honesty, Un- 
selfishness, Etc. 
Seamen. 

Leodora, (Jealousy), Queen of the Fairies. 
Her train of Fairies. 
A Woodcutter. 
Drinking Dwarfs. 



Act L 
(Garden in Happyrealm,) 

CHORUS OF CHILDREN. 

(Ringing suspended bells) 

Ding-dong-dell 
Ring each bell, 
Ding-dong, ding-dong, 
Ding-dong-dell. 

CHILDREN. 

(With tiny ropes covered with roses.) 

Little children, little children, 
Let us play and laugh and sing. 
Little children, little children, 
Form a rosy, rosy ring. 

(Children join hands to make a circle.) 

Round and round and round we go, 
Back and forward, to and fro. 



THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 



Round and round and round we go, 

Back and forward, to and fro. 

We have gathered flowers fair, 

To deck our brows and twine our hair ; 

Daisies white and violets blue — 

Sweet-scented buds of every hue. 

(Children run joyfully over the grasses. Some carry wreaths, 
and others baskets filled with fruits and flowers. 

This will be a holiday, 

For our Prince must sail away, 

Sail away, sail away; 

For our Prince must sail away. 

All is Love in Happyrealm, 

For us there is no night ; 
Merry are the fleeting hours, 

As here we walk in light. 

(Bugle in distance.) 
(Enter Prince.) 

All hail, all hail, beloved Prince ! 

Thy subjects, ever true, 
Await commands. Give us the word, 

Thy bidding we will do. 

PRINCE. 

children of our Happyrealm ! 

From you I go away ; 
To foreign shores I soon must cruise, 

But, dear ones, not to stay. 

CHORUS OF CHILDREN. 

Oh, do not stay ! 

All is love in Happyrealm, 

For us there is no night; 
Merry are the fleeting hours 

As here we walk in light. 

PRINCE. 
Queen Margaret, my mother, I would see. 

(Enter Queen.) 



THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 



MARGARET. 

Precious treasure, sent from heaven, 

How I love thee, my dear son ! 
And at parting, I can only 

Say, our Father's will be done. 
As you go into the wide world, 

Shun, my child, the hidden snare ; 
Of the many ways of evil, 

my son, beware, beware ! 
Precious treasure, sent from heaven, 

How I love thee, my dear son ! 
And at parting, I can only 

Say, our Father's will be done. 

(Queen bows her head.) 

PRINCE. 

(With feeling.) 

A mother's love, so sacred, pure, and holy ! 

A mother's love, it doth a solace bring ; 
A mother's love, so sacred, pure and holy ! 

A mother's love, bright angels of it sing. 

(Enter Princess Cleona.) 

PRINCE 

Ah, my betrothed ! 

Thy thoughts, dear love, are like sweet, waxen flowers, 

That open in a peaceful garden fair ; 
Thy voice like silver fount in fragrant bowers, 

All musically floats upon the air. 
As in the breaking morn, bright sunbeams banish 

The webs of dew o'er grass and blossom spread, 
Before thy gaze all pain and sorrow vanish, 

Truth's fadeless light forever guards thy head. 
Thy deeds, my love, are golden like the grain — 

How many rise to bless thee on thy way ! 
From thy kind hands rich bounties ever rain ; 

Thou leadest on, and upward to the day. 
(Prince kisses the hand of the Princess.) 



THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 



PRINCESS. 

Duty calls thee, dearest Prince, 

Love would bid thee stay ; 
Never falter in thy work, 

Though rough may be the way. 
When on other shores thou art, 

Keep in Truth's clear light, 
Take with thee thy armor strong, 

Wear it day and night. 

QUEEN. 

(To Prince.) 

"Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might." 

(Ephesians VI. 10.) 

" Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that 
ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and 
having done all to stand." 

(Ibid. 13.) 

(As the Queen repeats these words, an armor of light descends 

to the Prince.) 

CHORUS OF CHILDREN 
An armor of light ! an armor of light ! 

PRINCESS 

(Examining the armor.) 

This helmet shall protect thy head, * 

The sword make strong thy hand ; 
Prince, keep well thy armor on, 

In that dark foreign land. 

PRINCE. 

(Puts on armor.) 

Ne'er distrust my fealty, 

Thy loving thoughts shall strengthen me. 

(Bids Princess and his mother adieu, then turns to his subjects.) 

Mother, Cleona, and subjects loyal ! 

Once more I gaze upon each lovely face 
Upturned to Harold, and to Margaret royal. 

My ship soon sails to many an unknown place. 



THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 



I go to teach the truth that strengthens me ; 
I go to learn of men beyond the sea. 
May holiness and goodness with you dwell ; 
And now, my subjects all, farewell, farewell. 

CHORUS. 

(Following Prince Harold, Queen Margaret, and Princess Cleona 
to back of stage where ship awaits Prince.) 

Farewell, noble lord ! 

God's own grace attend thee ; 
And may it, noble lord, 

Home again soon send thee. 
Farewell, noble lord ! 

Much shalt thou see to tell. 
Now, thou of Happyrealm 

Great Prince, farewell, farewell ! 

(Curtain. End of Act First.) 



ACT II. 

A seaport. Seamen lounging on a wharf. 

FIRST SEAMAN. 

(Stands gazing over the waters; addresses other sailors working 

near him.) 

A rover bold that glittering one must be. 
What is he doing, cruising near our shore? 
Give me the glass that I may better see. 
Many Fve watched, but ne'er his like before. 

SECOND SEAMAN. 

Mayhap he comes to spy upon us here. 
Mark him well, nor lose him from your sight ; 
His working crew right brawny lads appear — 
They sail here but to pillage and to fight. 



THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 



THIRD SEAMAN. 

To greet him then, I think we should seem glad, 
That we may seize his treasure ere he's gone. 
Appearing as a knight in armor clad, 
He floats such flags as man ne'er looked upon. 

FOURTH SEAMAN. 

Methinks that ship is laden down with gold, 
Because of dreams I had but yesternight ; 
The very heavens rained gifts manifold, 
And we were filling sacks with all our might. 

FIRST SEAMAN. 

Oh, fie ! thine is a groggy, foolish brain, 
Conceiving that which never doth come true ; 
Give over dreaming things so vain — 
Let us to work, and see what we can do. 

CHORUS. 

Singing on approaching ship of Prince Harold. 

The sea is calm, and all is well, 
Yo-ho, my lads, yo-ho ! 
No stormy gales the waters swell, 
Yo-ho, my lads, yo-ho ! 
Within the caverns of the deep, 
The hidden treasures lie, 
Above the surging waters blue, 
The swift-winged sea-birds fly. 
Yo-ho, my lads, yo-ho ! 

(Prince lands; the sailors crowd around him.) 

FIRST SEAMAN. 
(Fiercely.) 

From whence art thou ? Now quickly tell ! 
Give up thy sword, and shield as well. 

PRINCE ! 

And do ye thus a stranger treat? 



THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 9 



FIRST SEAMAN. 

Aye, aye, proud knight, for thee 'tis meet. 
(The Seaman strikes at Prince, then stands as one paralyzed.) 

SECOND SEAMAN. 

Not thou, but weakness overcomes my mate, 
Have at thee ! 

(He strikes and also is stricken.) 

My arm is down, 

Who art thou— god or fiend ? 

PRINCE. 

From Happyrealm I come, where reign sweet peace 

And joy; abundance there on every hand; 

And here I hope no enmity to find, 

But that ye bid me truly to your land. 

To tarry with you were for me delight, 

Within this isle of birds and flowers bright. 

THIRD SEAMAN. 

Then come, my friend, and be our honored guest, 

We'll work to cheer thee, and thy able crew ; 

We'll open wide the port for all thy ships, 

And give to them a hearty welcome too. 

My home, on shore, is but an humble place, 

Where loiter those whose living is the sea. 

Our people are the simple fisher folk ; 

A wife I have and romping children three. 

I hope, stranger, thou wilt promise me 

To take a meal there in my lowly home ; 

And have a night of sleep and needful rest, 

Lulled by the ocean's roar. Pray, good Prince, come ! 

PRINCE. 

An invitation hearty, to be sure ! 

Thy courtesy, kind stranger, suits me well ; 

In such a cot I ne'er a night have spent, 

Nor heard bold sailors their strange sea tales tell. 



10 THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 



THIRD SEAMAN. 

My grandsire knows a tale of golden ships 
That once shone out upon the placid sea ; 

But whence they came, or whither disappeared, 
Was to all mariners a mystery. 

PRINCE. 

Would he repeat this ancient tale to me? 

THIRD SEAMAN 
Aye, aye, and others too, right heartily. 

PRINCE. 

'Tis my misfortune that I can not stay; 
My urgent duty bids me soon away. 

(Shouting in distance; boys, laughing and jeering, run across the 
back of stage and disappear. Enter small boy on crutches, cry- 
ing. A seaman stoops and pats him on the head.) 

SEAMAN. 
Why weepest thou, good little boy? 

CHILD. 

Schoolmates broke my only toy; 

My crooked form they say they scorn — 

Oh, would I never had been born ! 

PRINCE. 

(Touched by the boy's distress) 

Come here, dear child, and let me see, 
Just what a prince may do for thee — 
I have no sweets nor playthings nice, 
But I may give thee good advice. 

CHILD. 

(Puts his arms around Prince.) 

I think thou art a handsome prince, 
And good as good can be; 



THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 11 



I wish to show thee homage, sir, 

Upon my bended knee. 
Alas ! weak joints are in the way, 
I suffer torment night and day. 
Yet I should love to hear thy voice ; 

A pleasing melody 
Would soothe my weary soul, all torn 

By years of agony. 

PRINCE. 

(Pats the boy tenderly. Sings.) 

Arouse ye, arouse ye, sons of the light ! 
Why longer grope blindly in sin's lurid night? 
Awake ye, awake ye, hear Love's holy call ; 
'Tis error that blinds ye — burst chains that enthrall. 
Sing praises, high praises, ye blest sons of God ! 
The morning is breaking, arise from the sod ; 
Come follow Christ's footsteps in sweet paths of peace, 
Have done with fierce anger, let wild tumults cease. 
Embrace ye the Good, all your troubles 'twill cure, 
Rich blessings bestowing for aye to endure. 
Proclaim it, proclaim it, the Truth that makes free ; 
Now gird on your armor, God's warriors to be. 

(The child casts his crutches aside; healed and straight, he 

walks.) 



CHILD. 

(Overjoyed.) 

Behold me ! I feel no pain ! 

'Tis wonderful to walk again ! 

Great Prince, I now can know earth's joys, 

Gone is the dread disease ; 
And I shall run like other boys, 

And climb the tallest trees. 
Then plunging into waters clear, 
I, too, can dive without a fear. 
Deep gratitude now fills my heart, 

To God my voice I raise ; 
Henceforth may I but do my part, 

And serve him all my days. 



12 THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 



PRINCE. 

The Truth, my child, hath made thee free ; 
Go play, enjoy thy liberty. 

(Boy kisses Prince, goes out running. Seamen fall on their 
(knees before the Prince.) 

SEAMEN. 

heavenly Prince, thou art divine, 

Before thee now we kneel ; 
This miracle we deem a sign, 
For only gods can heal. 

(The Prince manifests disapproval, and the seamen rise from the 

ground.) 

PRINCE. 

In Happyrealm lives my betrothed, 

Who wrote this hymn of joy 

And taught it me. Could she but know 

Healed is the darling boy ! 

The child's pure thought the Truth received, 

He felt its touch, so was relieved. 

A SEAMAN. 

We, too, would enter Happyrealm. 

All we encounter here 
Is direst woe — crime, suffering, 

And death, the orphan's tear. 
May we, good Prince, now follow thee 
Into thy land of harmony ? 

PRINCE. 

When to this warm, enchanted port 

I came, the very air 
Was heavy with the myriad blooms 

Of brilliant flowers rare. 
Wild beauty met my sea-worn eye, 
And filled my soul with ecstacy. 

1 hurried forth to greet you, men, 

With heartiest good will ; 
Mistrusting not that anyone 

Would seek to do me ill. 
On your life's tablet is a blot — 
How shocked was I at your foul plot ! 



THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 13 



Would each outer blessings find, 
Cleanse first the inner mind ; 
Daily must you watch and pray. 
Now farewell, I must away ! 

(The seamen talk apart, then send forward their spokesman.) 

SEAMAN. 
(Quickly.) 

Great Prince, forever with us dwell ! 

Our men that brave the sea 
Shall give thee of their choicest spoils, 

Pure gold, chalcedony. 
Thou shalt have walls of marble white, 

And canopies of blue — 
Pearl-studded cloth, of sheerest weave, 

Soft-colored, scented, too. 
And near thy water-beaten home, 

When moonlight floods thy hall, 
Gay sea-nympths, playing on the wave, 

Shall sing and to thee call. 
^Beneath the ocean's ceaseless roar, 

Content each mermaid dwells ; 
These beaming creatures laughing toss 

Red seaweed and pink shells. 
Rose-tinted coral chaplets bright 

Adorn their golden hair; 
Their harps with seamoss they entwine, 

And play with talent rare. 
Prince, thou shalt our commander be, 

To rule with steady hand ; 
Or, if thou carest not for this, 

Be king of all our land ! 

PRINCE. 

I thank you for this honor, mates, 

And yet I cannot stay. 
Look not to man, but unto God — 

No longer me delay ! 

(Turns toward ship. Curtain. End of Act Second.) 



14 THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 

ACT III. 

(A Forest at Dawn.) 
(A Fairy is bending over a lake gathering water lilies.) 

FAIRY 

(Sings.) 

Rosy dawn gleaming bringeth to view, 
Drowsily dreaming, bright with the dew, 
Each lovely flower that slumbering lies — 
Wee yellow lilybuds, open your eyes. 
Mists, rising lightly, uncover your beds ; 
Songs of the forest float over your heads ; 
Birds are awake, and have flown from the nest, 
Still on the water you sluggishly rest ! 
Here you lie dreaming, all pearly with dew, 
Early light streaming bringeth to you 
All of the splendor of earth and the skies ; 
Lazy, wee lilybuds, open your eyes! 

(Fairies come from every side; they are dressed in all the colors 
of the rainbow. Dance, then disappear.) 

(Enter Prince, casting his armor aside.) 

PRINCE, 

What danger or ill could here betide ? 
This heavy armor I cast aside — 
JSfow I can rest on these banks of green, 
Naught to molest me, where no one is seen. 

(Reclines under a tree, and sleeps.) 
(Enter Leodora, the jealous Queen of the Fairies.) 

LEODORA. 

Who can this fair mortal be, 

Asleep beneath my hawthorn tree? 

Why is he here ? I'll send a dart 

To test his strength and make him start. 



THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 15 



PRINCE. 

(Injured.) 

Oh, mad dream ! My peace has fled, 
I feel dismayed — my head! my head! 
Cleona, love, where is she? 
Cruel fate has taken her from me ! 

(Sees Leodora.) 

A dainty maiden, to be sure, 
Sent by some power to allure 
Me by her charms. Oh, haste away, 
Thou graceful siren, do not stay ! 
My heart has long been given to 
A princess with deep eyes of blue. 
I fear thee more than knightly foe — 
I pray thee leave, or I must go. 



LEODORA. 

Thou canst not leave me, for a spell 
I threw upon thee — it is well ; 
Thou art my lord, thou art my king. 
Come, my lithe fairies, dance and sing, 

(Enter Fairies.) 
(Leodora, breaking a spray from a flowering bush.) 

Fragrant, wee, flower-kirtled blossom fays, 
Fluttering and hovering on flower stalks, 

Basking on hedges in the bright rays, 

Following our footsteps in all our walks. 

(Fairies sing.) 

We are merry, merry fairies, 

Dancing to the music sweet, 
Sung by little men and women— 

We keep time with tiny feet. 
We are merry, merry fairies — 

All things joyous come and sing; 
Flowers, birds, and brooklets join us, 

Help to make the woodlands ring. 



16 THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 



QUEEN OF FAIRIES 

(To Prince.) 

Upon this mossy bank recline, 
And sip from fragrant flowers their wine ; 
I'll weave for thee a garland meet 
Of columbine and meadowsweet. 
Or if thou thirst I'll give thee drink ; 
Come, kneel then at the brooklet's brink, 
And there wild flowers to thee I'll bring — 
I love thee — ah, be thou my king ! 

PRINCE. 

My head is bare — unhappy hour ! 
With armor gone, lost is my power ; 
And o'er me steals a weary spell — 
Black magic in this secret dell ! 

(Sings.) 

Long ago I loved Cleona, 

Maiden gentle, maiden fair; 
Long ago I brought her flowers, 

And she twined them in her hair. 
Fondly near the lake I lingered, 

Gath'ring lilies tinted bright 
For Cleona, while she sweetly 

Sang to me of love's delight. 
Long ago I loved Cleona, 

Gentle maiden, passing fair ; 
Long ago, alas ! I left her, 

Left her mid the lilies there. 

(Leodora has been listening to the song; filled with jealousy, she 
bends over the prince, making a ring about him with a wand.) 



LEODORA. 

To thy first love no longer true, 
Thou scornest her dim eyes of blue; 
And now thy love thou'lt give to me, 
Through all the vast eternity. 



THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 17 

PRINCE. 

(First dazed, then succumbing to the spell.) 

Soul of my soul, in boundless bliss 
Upon thy brow I print a kiss ; 
And thou shalt be my chosen bride 
To thee I cling, whate'er betide. 

(Sings.) 

Sweet flowers are in bloom, my queen ! 

Together, you and I, 
Today upon the velvet green, 

Beneath an azure sky, 
Will gather roses pink and white. 

Ah, come along with me ! 
We two shall roam in heart's delight, 

From cares of mortals free. 
Hark! distant chimes of silver ring 

Peace paeans to the breeze; 
Soft-throated birds are caroling 

In shades of mystic trees. 
Ah, everywhere gay flowers are seen 

And lovely is the sky ; 
And you are my own fairy queen, 

Your willing vassal I. 

(Gives a start.) 

No, no, 'tis but a fairy charm ! 
Thy magic words have wrought this harm ; 
I love thee not — why wilt thou stay ? 
I beg thee, maiden, go away ! 

LEODORA. 
Thy word is given — it is too late. 

(To Fairies.) 

My subjects all, behold my mate ; 
He'll rule you with a kindly hand, 
Beloved monarch of our land. 
Now, fairies, do your very best, 
I leave you, dears, to take my rest. 
My king I give into your care, 
So guard him close — beware, beware! 

(Exit Leodora.) 



18 THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 



PRINCE. 

Fairyland, Fairyland, Fairyland, 
Worn am I, tired of thy sheen ; 

Fairyland, Fairyland, Fairyland — 
Oh, to escape from thy Queen ! 

FIRST FAIRY. 

Come ye fairies, merrymake, 
While our Queen her rest doth take ; 
Bring fresh flowers from the lake ; 
From the trees the ripe fruit shake — 
Come ye fairies, merrymake ! 

SECOND FAIRY 

Who art thou, that thou shouldst say 
What we are to do today ? 

Buzzing bee ! 
Like the Queen, I too shall rest, 
Culling flowers I detest — 

Play for me ! 

THIRD FAIRY. 

Well, if Green-wings is to dream 
By the cooling summer stream, 

So shall I. 
Ha ! and I shall wander where, 
Fragrant odors fill the air, 

'Neath the sky. 

FIRST FAIRY. 

(To Second Fairy.) 

Butterflies, when they alight, 
On the honeysuckle white, 
Are to me a pretty sight, 
Bright their hue; 
Chasing these is my delight, 
And thine too. 

SECOND FAIRY. 

Oh, dear me ! just butterflies ! 
Here, then gone ere daylight dies; 



THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 19 



Sport so silly I detest — 
What's a butterfly at best? 
Humming birds have far more charm, 

When we catch them on the wing ; 
Should one fly here, sure no harm 

I would do the pretty thing. 
I would feed it from my hand ; 

Then on trumpet flower 
It should view our Fairyland 

Through each summer hour. 

FAIRIES. 
(In Chorus.) 

All make ready now for play, 
Let this be a gala day ; 
Why should we the Queen obey? 
Bind the culprit, then away ! 

(The Fairies, executing the "Cord Dance," bind the Prince to a 
tree. Exeunt Fairies.) 

(Enter a Woodcutter.) 

PRINCE. 

(To Woodcutter.) 

Come save me from this mystic spell ! 
See into what a snare I fell. 
I care not for this woodland fay, 
Oh, from this plight free me, I pray ! 

WOODCUTTER. 

Release thee? What would be the cost? 
I free thee ? then my head were lost. 
I value more my life than gold, 
So fare thee well, my warrior bold. 

(Exit Woodcutter.) 

VOICE OF CONSCIENCE. 

(No figure need be seen.) 

Thou, Prince, didst bare thy royal head, 
And give thy armor to the dead. 



20 THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 



PRINCE. 

My burdens all too heavy grow, 
But there is help — ah, that I know. 
Yon gruff old peasant would not free 
Me from this awful misery ; 
A heartless fellow he — I'll plan, 
Fit punishment for such a man. 

(A wicked Dwarf rises from the ground.) 

DWARF. 

Ho, friend, do come and drink with me, 
Thy choice shall wine or brandy be ; 
Then I will show thee from this dell — 
Trust to me, and all is well. 

PRINCE. 

Why, man, to thee I'll give my gold 

If thou wilt lead me from this cold, 

Dark fay land. Let me view the light — 

I stifle in this pall of night. 

(Dwarf removes cords that bind the Prince.) 

DWARF. 

Thou'rt not content upon the ground, 
But much prefer to sail around 
On storm clouds, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ! 
To fly through space at lightning speed, 
And give to passing men no heed, 
Would please thee — la, la, la, la, la ! 
Now drink with me — yes that you must. 

(Forces the Prince to drink from a bottle.) 
I set you free, so me you trust, 
Well, come along — ha, ha, ha, ha ! 
Start up a song — la, la, la, la ! 

(Exit the Dwarf, singing in a rasping tone, and pulling the dazed 
and unresisting Prince after him.) 

(Curtain.) 



THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 21 



ACT. III. 

Scene II. 

Wine Den in a Cave. 

(Enter Dwarf, holding the Prince by the arm. Drinking dwarfs 
crowd around the Prince. Snakes coil on the rocks; bats, owls 
and skeletons add to the hideous scene. Chorus of diabolical 
laughter by dwarfs and men. A Dwarf enters bearing a waiter 
of glasses; each glass has a snake coiled around the handle. The 
Dwarf hands one of the glasses to the Prince, who tries to dash it 
to the ground, but is powerless to do so. Laughter by inmates of 
the cave. They force the Prince to drink.) 

DWARF. 

(Singing.) 

Take the cup, 'tis full of cheer ! 
Take the cup, each comrade here ; 
See it sparkle — what delight! 
Come drink, and while away the night ! 

CHORUS OF MEN. 
(Raising their glasses.) 

Take the cup, gay comrades here, 
Take the cup, 'tis full of cheer ! 
See it sparkle — what delight! 
Come drink, and while away the night ! 

DWARF. 

Take the cup, gay comrades here, 
Take the cup, 'tis full of cheer ! 
Make Bacchus god of this wild ball, 
Let laughter fill our banquet hall ! 

CHORUS. 
Take the cup, etc. 

DWARF. 

In honor of our haughty guest, 
Let's decorate, and do our best. 

(Exuent dwarfs.) 



22 THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 



PRINCE. 

Ah, heavy is the toll I pay! 

For disobedience hath brought 
This agony — unhappy day! 

To me it all this harm hath wrought ! 
Could this one thing be granted me — 
Once more my armor I would see! 

(The prince stands looking for his armor, when the dwarfs enter 
with chains of snakes, which they hang about the walls of the 
cave; others enter with lighted skulls, and place them on the 
rocks; others suspend a chain of serpents and skulls across the 

front of the cave.) 

DWARF. 

(To Prince.) 

Thy voice, my friend, sounds weak and strange, 

Thy speech, to us unknown ; 
But prisoners here do not depart — 

We claim thee for our own. 

PRINCE. 

Base fiend! why further torture me — 
Call me a weakling, and in glee 
Thrust on my sight this gruesome scene ; 
Force to my lips thy liquors mean ? 
Thou canst not fell me — I shall rise 
And view again the starry skies ! 

(Chorus of jeers and laughter by dwarfs. Prince sinks to the 
ground, they form a ring and dance around him. 

CHORUS OF DWARFS. 

In underground bad dwarfs are found, 

For we like best the night ; 
Our pleasure is to make men drunk 

And keep them from the light. 

(Vision of the Princess Cleona. Dwarfs scream and vanish. Error 
disappears when the Vision of Life, Truth and Love enters.). 

VISION. 

Sorry, sorry is thy plight, 

But, brave Prince, follow the light. 

(A long ray of light shines on Prince. He slowly awakens and 
sits up, rubbing his eyes.) 



THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 23 



PRINCE. 

Oh, why should I awaken, 
By all good men forsaken ! 

(Vision of Princess.) 
PRINCE. 

(To Vision.) 

Go back ! Why come, love, to this awful den, 
Fit place for demons, not for angels pure ? 

Thy realm is one of light, with holy men, 

This darkened pit thou never canst endure. 

VISION. 

I come to show thee, Prince, the light of day. 

Thy path is rugged, and thy armor gone ; 
A broken staff is but a poor support 

For thee to lean thy weary self upon. 

PRINCE. 

And wouldst thou still be true to such as I — 
A creature now defiled with all things low? 

I am not one that thou shouldst look upon, 

Depart, I beg — kind maiden, thou wilt go. 

VISION. 

Nay, nay, can I in Happyrealm abide, 

While thou must breathe this stifling air in pain ? 
Near thee I'll stay, my Prince, and may I guide 

Thee from this darkness into light again ! 

PRINCE. 

I love thee, but thou seemst apart from me 

Full many leagues, though thou art still so near. 
Like Tantalus, I am forced to see 

What I most want and cannot gain. What fear, 
Ye gods, now seizes me ! How can I hope 

Ever to touch her stainless lips again? 
Hard bound from hand to foot, and sick with woe, 

A drunken wretch I writhe in sin-brought pain. 



24 THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 



CHORUS OF DWARFS, IN DISTANCE. 

In underground bad dwarfs are found, 

For we like best the night ; 
Our pleasure is to make men drunk 

And keep them from the light. 
Ha, ha, ha, ha ! 

(Prince, with a mighty struggle, rises and goes toward the light.) 

PRINCE. 

The work begun will soon be done, 

These shackles Truth can sever ; 
I rise to meet the glorious light — 

I shall be free forever ! 

(More light floods the cave.) 

INVISIBLE CHORUS. 
Salvation ! Salvation ! 

(The Prince, looking up, sees his armor.) 

PRINCE. 

(in ecstacy.) 

Again I see my armor, 

'Tis radiant with light ; 
To me it now descendeth — 

Oh, blest, supernal sight ! 
To me I see returning 

My helmet and my shield ; 
Fear no more, pilgrim, 

Earth's darkest battlefield ! 
Again I see my armor, 

Resplendent now with light ; 
To me fore'er returning — 

Oh, blest supernal sight ! 

(Prince dons armor, then turns to Princess. Celestial music.) 

PRINCE. 

As in the olden days, 

I would thy goodness praise. 

(Sings.) 



THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 25 



Thy thoughts, dear love, are like sweet waxen flowers 

That open in a peaceful garden fair ; 
Thy voice, like silver fount in fragrant bowers, 
All musically floats upon the air. 
As, in the breaking morn, bright sunbeams banish 

The webs of dew o'er grass and blossom spread, 
Before thy gaze all pain and sorrow vanish, 

Truth's fadeless light forever guards thy head. 
Oh, would I were as thou art, dearest maiden ! 

Give me thy hand and lead me to the day, 
For I have been so worn and heavy laden. 

Together let us tread in Christ's true way. 
(Vision descends and offers hand to Prince.) 



INVISIBLE CHORUS. 

Salvation let us now proclaim ! 

Great God of Truth and God of Love, 

Let every tongue, below, above, 
Sing praises to Thy holy name. 

(Appearance of chorus and earth children; they follow the Prince 
and Princess out of the cave, all singing.) 

Great God of Truth and God of Love, 

We have Thy Spirit and Thy Light ; 
No more must we, Thy children mourn, 

Nor longer grope in darkest night. 

GREAT GOD OF LOVE ! 
GREAT GOD OF MIGHT ! 

(Curtain.) 
THE END. 



SunnnSi C0NGRESS 

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